FERS retirement

Q. In an article entitled “Calculating CSRS, FERS annuities,” you indicated “that you could also retire early at age 50 with 20 years of service, or, if you have 25 years of service, at any age. I have 27 years and four months of service and I am 50 years old. Am I correct to understand that if I retire now, there would be no age penalty?A. Those age and service rules only apply to employees who are offered early retirement under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority. Unless you are offered a VERA, these age and service rules apply:
Age 62 with five years of service.
Age 60 with 20.
At your minimum retirement age (MRA) with 30.
At your MRA with 10.
Note: Under the MRA+10 provision, your annuity would be reduced by 5 percent for every year you were under age 62.